Echoes of Justice (DI Matt Turrell Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

forcing him to take both her hands, twisting them behind her to draw her in close.
    ‘You might enjoy it,’ she said, lifting her mouth towards his.
    ‘Oh, I’m sure I will.’ Matt bent to kiss her, fusing them together and arousing the need in both of them. He took her hand and led her into the bedroom, removing her blouse and his shirt. The doorbell rang.
    ‘Let’s ignore it,’ he begged.
    She nodded like a naughty schoolgirl and jumped on the bed. Matt grinned and followed her. The bell rang again and this time didn’t let up. Someone was holding their finger on the buzzer.
    ‘Bugger, I’d better find out who that is. You stay right here.’ Matt grabbed his shirt and headed for the door.
    It couldn’t be work, as they would ring. Maybe Ida was in trouble. He couldn’t imagine her holding onto the bell that long unless it was an emergency. Flinging open the door, he was surprised to see a middle-aged woman. Her hair and dress shouted expensive more than elegant. Her face, despite its expert make-up, appeared shrewish and angry. Before he had time to ask what she wanted, she pushed past him.
    ‘About time. Suitcases in the hall.’
    ‘I’m sorry, who are you?’
    ‘Angela. Your mother-in-law. Unless Eppie has taken a lover already.’
    ‘I beg your pardon?’ Matt couldn’t believe that this bossy, rude woman had descended on them without so much as a warning. Still, he was aware that his shirt was undone and hastened to fasten it. Now he understood why Eppie didn’t want anything to do with her mother. She was supposed to be far away in Argentina, happy with her fifth husband. Angela stood glancing around the flat.
    With a sniff, she turned to Matt. ‘Cases.’
    ‘You can’t stay here.’
    ‘And why not? This is my daughter’s home. Such as it is.’
    ‘Yes, but─’
    ‘Mum?’
    Eppie came from the bedroom fastening her robe. She stopped, shocked at the sight of her mother. He waited for her to decide what to do.
    ‘It’s alright, Matt.’
    ‘Right, I’ll get the cases.’ Matt turned and went into the hall, wondering how Eppie would deal with this. Angela, he couldn’t remember her latest married name, hadn’t come to their wedding or even sent a card. Eppie had been hurt. How dare the woman turn up unannounced? Seeing the number of cases waiting in the hallway, it looked like she intended staying for months. By the time he’d manoeuvred the last heavy suitcase into the flat, Angela was seated on the sofa and Eppie was standing by the bookcase trying to compose herself.
    ‘So what are you doing here, Mum?’
    ‘It seemed the natural place to come.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Need you ask?’
    ‘Yes. You haven’t bothered with me for years. So why turn up now?’
    Angela glanced at Matt. ‘A coffee would be nice, if you are able.’
    Matt flushed. He didn’t intend to be spoken to like a servant. ‘A please would be nice, if you are able,’ he snapped, regretting the words as soon as they left his lips.
    Eppie gave him a stricken look and he guessed she didn’t want him to make matters worse.
    ‘I’ll make coffee,’ he muttered and went into the kitchen. He made a special effort to be quiet so that he could listen. There was silence for a moment.
    ‘Why, Mum? Why now, when you couldn’t even send a card for our wedding?’
    ‘I was heartbroken about that.’
    ‘I can imagine.’
    Matt caught the sarcastic tone in Eppie’s voice and hurried with the coffee. He wanted to support her.
    Angela continued as if uninterrupted. ‘Fernando has thrown me out. A little hussy has turned the silly man’s head. He’ll live to regret it. I’m sure he will.’
    More likely, the poor man wished he’d done it earlier, Matt thought as he loaded the tray.
    ‘Well, you’re not going to win him back from over here are you, Mother?’
    ‘No alternative, dear. The heartless man cut off all my credit.’
    ‘So, what’s the plan? You can’t expect to live here. We have no space.’
    Good on you,